Immerse yourself in West Chester’s festive holiday atmosphere with this 90 minute walking tour, brought to you by the Chester County History Center. Your costumed guides will take you to West Chester’s early churches, department stores and UGRR cultural sites, learning about what the winter holidays meant to the people of West Chester from the […]
Our American democracy is worth fighting for, and it has been since 1776. That struggle has produced heroes, all worthy. It has spawned foes – some with good intentions, others certainly not. Historians participating in the York County History Storytellers evening are returning to explore what has worked in York County’s history and those times […]
A new documentary deploring Waverly's crucial role in the Underground Railroad and a celebration of the bravery of unsung abolitionists running on the Scranton ABC-TV app, WNEP+. The documentary highlights the intriguing history of the little Pennsylvania community of Waverly, and the fearless abolitionists who bravely hid escaped slaves on the path to freedom, as […]
For one night only, the storied gates of Historic Valley Forge Military College will open for a celebration where past and future collide. This exclusive sneak peek is reserved for the Delco community, offering a festive evening of discovery, where we will unveil a special sampler of the 2026 events and program. Several themes to […]
For thousands of escaped slaves in the 18th and 19th centuries, the Underground Railroad represented hope for a new life. This secret network of hidden, safe places relied on abolitionists and kind communities to aid runaways on their journey northward. Bucks County was home to many important stops on the railroad from taverns and churches […]
2026 ANIMATING DEMOCRACY: LANCASTER LIVE AND LEARN William Whipper Reading Circle LENWOOD SLOAN, Facilitator JOHN MALINA, Respondent DAVID WALKER 1829 - APPEAL TO THE COLORED CITIZENS OF THE WORLD! Tre Johnson - Black Genius: Essays on an American Legacy Free Registration required
Quaker Benevolence and African Genius: Banneker and Cupid Paca featuring Dr. Leroy Hopkins, PhD For generations, Lancaster County’s history has been told through familiar names and well-documented narratives. Yet some of the most remarkable stories—particularly those centered on African American achievement—have remained overlooked or underrepresented. The Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County’s January Speaker Series […]
Explore the historic presence of African Americans in Bucks County, from the 1700s through emancipation. As the Revolutionary War was starting, Pennsylvania Quakers launched an early movement to end slavery in Bucks County. This movement continued as the Underground Railroad in the 19th century. We will explore African American history in Bucks looking at manumission […]
A FREE Family Event Celebrating America 250 and Black History Month A collaboration between the Chester County History Center, the Kennett Underground Railroad Center and West Chester Dance Works. Start your visit at 1:00 PM with a self‑guided tour through 300 years of Chester County history. Then, from 2:00–3:00 PM, gather in the auditorium for a dynamic […]
Lydia Hamilton Smith lived a remarkable life as the confidante of Thaddeus Stevens, but also as an accomplished woman in the years following his death. While many know Smith in relation to Stevens, she carefully crafted a life shaped by hard work, dignity, and egalitarian values. An astute businesswoman and an important figure in social […]
